DeLauro Catfish Amendment Wins Approval at Agriculture Appropriations

Offered Others Dealing With Menu Labeling, Transparency

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today won approval of an amendment that would prohibit the Administration from entering into any agreement that invalidates U.S. catfish inspection laws. The amendment was added to the Fiscal Year 2016 Agriculture Appropriations bill by voice vote. The bill was approved by the Appropriations Committee this afternoon by a bipartisan voice vote. DeLauro is a former Chairwoman of the Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee.

“A currently pending catfish inspection rule would require countries importing their catfish to the United States meet our food safety standards. No agreement we enter into should require us to change our food safety laws or prohibit forthcoming regulations. I am pleased the Committee agreed with the need to reaffirm the law of our land, and policy the Congress supported in last year’s Farm Bill, regarding catfish.”

DeLauro also offered two amendments that were defeated on party line votes:
• Require annual public disclosure of participants in the federal subsidized crop insurance program and the amount they received. The text can be viewed here
• Ensure chain restaurants and similar businesses have calorie counts posted on their menu boards no later than December 1, 2016. The text can be viewed here

In addition, DeLauro spoke in support of provisions authored by other members of the Committee that would remove harmful policy provisions dealing with tobacco, horse slaughter, dietary guidelines and previously-closed subsidies for farmers, and prohibit USDA from allowing imports of fresh beef from parts of Argentina and Brazil without further evaluation.


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